So it is obvious where the nickname has originated from and I certainly wasn't about to argue with him!

Some of Villa's best displays since like against Swansea, Man City in the League Cup and at home to Arsenal have included the £3.2million signing from Feyenoord, who looks decent when he is on his game.

But after missing two more games with injury, I think it is fair to ask is Concrete Ron really that hard?!

I was speaking to a Villa source this week about the team's prospects.

They believed Paul Lambert's side can beat the drop but were worried about a couple of factors.

One was captain Vlaar missing so many games with injury.

He has only started 17 out of 28 League games for Villa.

I thought he was outstanding in his previous appearance against West Ham when he helped Villa to a vital victory.

Boss Paul Lambert is now hopeful the Dutchman will recover from a calf injury to play against Reading this weekend.

But to miss both the Arsenal and Man City games with injury - leaving Villa with an even younger, inexperienced defence - is most unfortunate.

Lambert made no mention of Vlaar's injury in the build up to Arsenal and was seemingly giving his captain until the last minute to declare himself fit.

But it appears Vlaar is the kind of pro who only takes to the field when he feels 100 per cent.

Now that is not unusual of course and is well within a player's rights.

But many pros are also willing to play with knocks even when they are only 80 per cent fit or worse - especially when their team badly needs them.

For every inspirational leader willing to play through the pain like Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Paul Ince or Roy Keane, equally there are many players who simply feel incapable of playing when struggling.

I suspect it probably applies more to some of the foreign players who only make themselves available for selection when totally 100 per cent.

Perhaps Vlaar, who had several injuries and set-backs at Feyenoord, falls into this category?

Perhaps he doesn't.

'Concrete Ron' deserves the benefit of the doubt as the only person really able to determine his fitness definitively is Vlaar himself.

But it is clearly a fact the Villa defence is a lot better when Vlaar is in it and he needs to return quickly and stay in the side if the club are to beat the drop.

The other concern I heard recently was about the lack of natural holding players at Villa.

Villa's latest formation relies on two midfielders sitting infront of the back four to protect them by tackling and closing down opponents.

But is it a role naturally suited to the likes of Fabian Delph, Ashley Westwood and Karim El Ahmadi?

They can all perform the role of course but are all I believe instinctively more attacking and creative than that.

Delph is must be said has actually had a decent personal season but his 10th booking has earned him a two-game suspension.

Neville Williams

Yacouba Sylla: Holding out for a defensive midfield starting role?

Perhaps it will now mean a first start for January signing Yacouba Sylla who appears better suited to the defensive midfielder role.

But if that is the case then why haven't we seen him already in the starting line-up?

Villa's campaign is continuing to throw up all sorts of questions.

But ultimately the only question that really is matters is will the club stay up?

Losing by a single goal to Arsenal and the champions Man City is no disgrace and people at Villa insist they are playing well.

But Villa cannot afford any defeats in their next two games against Reading and QPR.

That would be a disaster and, unless he is totally crocked, captain Vlaar needs to be on the pitch to prevent it.

Read James Nursey's Aston Villa column every Thursday only on MirrorFootball